Fueling Speculation: Sumping for Safety Still Critical to Preflight Checklist

Instructor recounts a flight where an emergency landing revealed the critical importance of meticulous preflight checks.

Nikita Gabdrakhmanov

Friday, September 26, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The investigation suggested it was a crew fault, with the FAA and maintenance personnel suggesting we hadn’t sumped the fuel to check for water. ...This was not true. [Image: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

After a week of heavy rain, a flight instructor candidate incorrectly sumped the fuel by draining the belly strainer first, though no water was found during preflight.
During the fourth takeoff of a flight, the aircraft's engine sputtered and lost RPM at 50 feet, prompting an emergency landing.
The assistant chief instructor successfully executed a soft-field landing on grass, avoiding damage and injury.
Post-incident inspection revealed a significant amount of water in the fuel strainer, highlighting how improper sumping allowed water to migrate back into the system during flight, emphasizing the critical importance of following checklist procedures.

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The incident occurred in November 2023 during Florida’s hurricane season, a time known for storms and heavy rain that can last days or even weeks.

After a week of rain, our flight school resumed operations. As a Part 141 school, we follow comprehensive safety practices and procedures manual for how pilots must conduct preflight checks. These emphasize the importance of following checklists and carefully reviewing the aircraft’s POH.